CASTE IN STONE

Successive governments in Uttar Pradesh have supported icons that suit their political ideology.

Bahujan Samaj Party

The BSP government constructed memorials and parks in Lucknow and Noida where statues of Dalit icons Dr BR Ambedkar, Kanshi Ram, Ramabai, Shahuji Maharaj and Jyotiba Phule were installed. To construct Kanshi Ram memorial, Mayawati had ordered demolition of the district jail. A stadium was also demolished to expand Ambedkar memorial.

Samajwadi Party

The SP government constructed a park in the name of socialist ideologue Ram Manohar Lohia and installed his statue. The Akhilesh Yadav government built another park in name of SP leader Janeshwar Mishra.

Bharatiya Janata Party

Raja Suheldev: An 11th century king of Shravasti, located on India- Nepal border. Suheldev is said to have defeated and killed Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud, the nephew of Mahmud of Ghazni in a battle in Bahraich. A vivid description of his heroic fight against the invader is mentioned in ‘Mirat-i-Masudi’, a historical romance penned by Abd-ur-Rahman Chisti during the regime of Mughal emperor Jehangir.

Jhalkaribai: A commander in the army of Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi. A member of Dalit-Kori community, she became an adviser to Rani Laxmibai during the First War of Independence in 1857. She disguised as Rani Laxmibai when the East India Company’s army surrounded Agra Fort, allowing Laxmibai to escape.

Lakhan Pasi: A Pasi king who ruled the Awadh region. According to legend, it was Lakhan Pasi who founded the city of Lucknow. He expanded his kingdom in the Gangetic belt.